Altus Times (Altus, Okla.), Vol. 107, No. 65, Ed. 1 Friday, June 17, 2005 Page: 4 of 22
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Am s Times
JIUSTIMI-SA
Detroit blows out Spurs 102-71
decibel of the crowd’s adu- in the final minutes.
lation.
among the best.”
Though Manu Ginobili
in just five days, the still insists his bruised leg is
ting a finals record with just ry in five years.
four turnovers.
"We were phenomenal
See PIS TONS, page 5A
Retief the Robot starts well in defense of title
stress about tough conditions, Retief Goosen and thought conditions were quite difficult.
The feel-good stories of the day belonged to
ing U.S. Open champion. And that's why he only course we play that you have to aim away
from the holes.”
That would be because of the humpbacked thought on the tour; his hopes to compete in this
himself well in position to capture his third U.S. harder.
"I expected to play well, but I don’t know if 1
Open title.
Mickelson spent much of the lead-up to the expected to shoot that low of a score, but I knew
“1 only see them making it gradually tougher Open practicing at Pinehurst with short-game it was in there,” Mediate said.
as the week goes on,” Goosen said.
to hit the first tee shots, with John Daly not far and two-putted for bogey.
round won't go into the record books, his 67 in
finds himself near the lead once again.
Over a dry and breezy first round at Pinehurst
ovations.
But by that point in the
be from here on out.
"We know what it takes
Mediate was on the verge of irrelevance, his
chronic back troubles turning him into an aftcr-
And Detroit's relentless tonight," Brown said. "I to win a championship,
defense was even more really believe in all honesty We've been there before,
magical, crowding and this is the best game on a We're trying to get back to
shoving the Spurs into pure team I've been involved
frustration. Tim Duncan, with at this level, this is
Tribe’s proposal
raises concerns
On Friday, though, play began under cooler prepare for, like the ball landing in a patch of qualifying last week after shooting 73 in the
conditions with slightly overcast skies. Joe sand just outside a greenside bunker, the way it opening round. He stayed in, though, shot a 59
Ogilvie and Tommy Armour were among those did on No. 16, where Lefty chipped out weakly to make the Open, and even though that stellar
AP Photo
Detroit Pistons’ Chauncey Billups, right, goes up for two
points against San Antonio's Manu Ginobili during the fourth
quarter of Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.
:* ’ FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 2005
:Roddick given
tough draw
they won with defense,
good Detroit held San Antonio to
"When we’re
Yes, Lindsey Hunter, the defensively and we do the fifth-lowest scoring per-
Pistons' defensive special- share the ball, it’s hard for formance in NBA Finals
ist, the affable veteran us to lose,” Hunter said. "It history while limiting
guard whose shots usually was a great game. We had a Duncan to 5-of-l7 shooting
inspire audible cringing at lot of memorable games and harassing his team-
the Palace, not standing last year, but this ranks mates into terrible games.
: WIMBLEDON, England
: (AP) — If Andy Roddick is
: to make his second straight
Wimbledon final, he’ll
have to overcome a tough
•-draw.
: : The American’s project-
-ed path after Thursday’s
draw includes the tallest
-player on the tour, the local
! favorite and the new dar-
ling of tennis.
- Defending champion
-Roger Federer seems to
.'have an easier path. His
toughest projected match
could come in the semifi-
nals, with possible oppo-
nents being 2002 champion
Lleyton Hewitt or last
year’s semifinalist Mario
Ancic.
“I came into Wimbledon
last year with a lot of pres-
sure on me, as 1 was
defending my title for the
first time, but this year will
be a lot easier,” Federer
said before the draw. “As
soon as I get going I will be
tough to beat.”
On the women's side,
Serena Williams could face
sister Venus in the fourth
round after both were
drawn in the bottom half.
No. 2, Goosen shot a 2-under-par 68 to finish greens, which dried out as the day went on, mak- kind of grueling championship were thought to
one stroke off the lead Thursday — keeping ing already unpredictable surfaces that much be minuscule.
Batters beware: Johnson and Smoltz are back in top form
By The Associated Press pitches for strikes and 20 of his best. In his last few starts, it’s Mets 9, Oakland 6; Cleveland 2, on Robinson Cano’s single. Gary
Batters beware: Randy Johnson opening 21. The Big Unit finished seemed like old times. On Colorado 1; San Francisco 14, Sheffield added a bloop two-run
and John Smoltz are back in top with II strikeouts for his 205th Thursday, Smoltz (6-5) gave up Minnesota 7; Kansas City 9, L.A. double in the fourth,
form. , double-digit strikeout game, 10 four hits and lowered his ERA to Dodgers 6; and Philadelphia 3, Perez, 4-0 in his previous five
Johnson glared at hitters and shy of Nolan Ryan’s record. 3.14. Seattle 2 in 13 innings. starts, gave up six runs, seven hits
arms in disgust Smoltz won for the third time “We feel like we’re going to Johnson (7-5) won consecutive and five walks — one intentional
Thursday night, using his notori- in his last four starts, striking out win every time he goes out there,” starts for only the second time this — in five innings.
ous intensity on the mound to nine in eight innings of the Atlanta said Chris Reitsma, who pitched year and lowered his ERA to 3.51 At Cincinnati, Smoltz didn’t
reach double-digit strikeouts for Braves’ 5-2 victory over the the ninth for his fifth save. “It’s a He got his 253rd win, tying Carl walk a batter for the third straight
the N ve this season, leading Cincinnati Reds. good feeling for him, but also for Hubbell for 40th on the career list. game. His only mistakes on
New York Yankees to a 6-1 “I said it in spring training after the team.” “He was great!” Yankees owner Thursday were solo homers by
s ctory over the Pittsburgh Pirates the first game: I want to get back Smoltz’s re-emergence could- George Steinbrenner said. Joe Randa and Adam Dunn.
completed a three-game to where when I’m on the field, n’t have come at a better time for At 33-32, the Yankees are over "He’s pitched like that his
: _ they feel we’re going to win,” the Braves. Earlier Thursday, they .500 for the first time since they whole life,” manager Bobby Cox
$ Most of you guys have written Smoltz said. “That takes re-eam- put right-hander Tim Hudson on were 28-27 before losing at said. “He doesn’t get off track
eulogy last month,” Johnson ing. That doesn’t just come back the 15-day disabled list with a Minnesota on June 5. much.”
reporters. m not done. I’ve because 1 was a decent closer.” strained muscle in his left side. Hideki Matsui hit a two-run The Braves won for only the
sercalot fire in. me. . After four years and 154 saves Starters Mike Hampton and John homer in the first off Oliver Perez fifth time in their last 14 games a
perhaps his sharpest slider as Atlanta’s closer, Smoltz Thomson are also sidelined. (5-5), and New York made it 4-0 slump that dropped them to fourth
Ste season, Johnson pitched a returned to the role that helped In other interleague games, it in the second when Jason Giambi
she-hitter. He threw his first 13 him become one of the majors’ was: Detroit 3, San Diego 1; N.Y. hit a long RBI double and scored See BRAVES, page 5A
OKLAHOMA CITY
(AP) - The Cherokee
Nation’s proposal to place
its racetrack into federal
trust has raised concerns
for the Oklahoma Horse
Racing Commission.
Commission members
questioned David Stewart,
chief executive officer of
Cherokee Nation
Enterprises, after he
revealed the tribe’s plan at
a meeting on Thursday.
The commission voted
to delay approval of the
Will Rogers Downs
request to open a casino
with 250 electronic
games, and unanimously
delayed gaming licenses
for Remington Park in
Oklahoma City and Blue
Ribbon Downs at
Sallisaw.
The Cherokees last year
acquired Will Rogers
Downs, which hadn’t seen
live racing in several
years. After voters passed
state gaming legislation,
resuming horse racing at
the 236-acre Claremore
facility was more feasible.
Placing the track into
trust would remove it
from local property tax
rolls and maybe use
restrictions.
behind. Goosen was scheduled for a 1:10 p.m. “1 don’t see how anybody will be under par in the opening round certainly will.
tee time. these conditions after 72 holes,” Mickelson said. “There’s absolutely no correlation between
The low-key South African came to North As the day went on, tee shots hit down the qualifying for the Open and playing in the Open,
Carolina to defend his title, only to be more or middle bounced hard off the fairway and wound other than it gets you here,” Browne said. "I
less ignored in the lead-up to the tournament, up in the rough. Soft, high approach shots went would rather shoot under par at the Open than 59
something he conceded bothered him a bit earli- trickling off greens. That rough, meanwhile, just screwing around at home.”
er in the week. kept growing in the hot weather, turning club Also hanging around the leaderboard were
Also barely mentioned were Rocco Mediate faces and snaring hosels. Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia and Chris DiMarco at
and Olin Browne, both of whom teed off in the En route to a bogey on No. 16, Woods hacked 71 and Adam Scott and David Toms at 70. Luke
•morning, and wound up leading after the first a low liner out of the thick stuff, then turned Donald, Steve Jones and K.J. Choi joined
round at 3-under 67. Tied with Goosen a stroke around and yelled at photographers who started Mickelson at 69.
behind were Lee Westwood and Brandt Jobe, snapping during his backswing. Wherever the “This is very tough,” Choi said. “It is not
Only Jobe played in the afternoon, when the blame lied for the shot, the result was pre- Korean style where the fairways are wider and
wind started blowing, making the difficult dictable. the ball lands softer. I concentrate more and am
course brittle and much harder to predict than in “Once you miss these fairways, you have no very patient. I’ve learned to have patience,
1999, the last time the Open was played here. chance of getting them on the green,” Goosen patience, patience every hole and then relax.”
It plays more difficult in the afternoon, said said. Sounds like somebody else we know.
Jobe, who said it took a staggering 90 minutes Given all that, Woods wasn’t that upset with Goosen’s score would have been better had he
for him to grind through the last four holes. “But his par — a round that opened with a birdie after not needed 32 putts. If the putting gets better, he
I m happy. It s a good start, but there s a ton of hitting his second shot off a cart path and ended will never have to worry about being ignored
golf to be played. ’ with him looking exhausted as the temperatures again. Goosen is trying to become just the sixth
The crowded leaderboard included Phil climbed into the high 80s. person with more than two titles in the 105-year
third quarter Thursday NBA Finals have flipped, fine, he was held to 12
night, nobody could be sur- Although the best-of-seven points. While Duncan got
prised by anything Detroit series might be even in the 16 points and 16 rebounds,
did in its 102-71 victory standings at two games he spent the final minutes
over the San Antonio Spurs apiece, it now has a decided motionless on the bench.
in Game 4 of the NBA tilt to the east. "We’re feeling good,”
Finals. The Spurs were halfway said Ben Wallace, who
Hunter hit shot after dif- to another title before they again tag-teamed Duncan
ficult shot while scoring 17 visited this raucous arena in with Rasheed Wallace,
points in his best offensive the Detroit suburbs, where "Everybody’s got their legs
game in nearly three years, the defending champions back. Everybody is looking
The Pistons nearly ran wrapped up two outstand- fresh. Everybody is coming
coach Larry Brown’s ing performances with the out, looking to make plays,
offense to perfection, set- most one-sided finals victo- That’s the way we’ve got to
Mickelson at 69, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh "The golf course is not playing easy out
PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — While others at 70 and Ernie Els, who shot 71 in the morning there,” he said.
guru Dave Pelz. But some things you just can’t Browne, meanwhile, almost withdrew from
just keeps playing. That’s why he’s the defend- “It’s really unbelievable,” Els said. “It’s the Mediate and Browne.
AUBURN HILLS, Mich, the two-time finals MVP, they best we’ve played.
(AP) — Lindsey Hunter hit became so discombobulat- This was a pretty special
the jumper, drew the foul ed that he forgot to slap his game.”
and backpedaled in slow teammates’ waiting hands Though seven Pistons
motion, soaking up every while trudging to the bench scored in double figures,
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Andrews, Mike. Altus Times (Altus, Okla.), Vol. 107, No. 65, Ed. 1 Friday, June 17, 2005, newspaper, June 17, 2005; Altus, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc2181551/m1/4/?rotate=270: accessed July 17, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.